The answer comes to me in mere seconds, like a lightning bolt of realization.
I stand here, watching anxiously as the sound of the car grows louder, my heart pounding in my chest. The sound envelops me, filling my ears with a ringing sensation, as if it wants me to take notice. And I do, hearing the sound of my own heartbeat pounding in my ears.
Fully prepared, I lift my hand, ready to press my palm against the intangible barrier that keeps me on the sidelines.
But that's not how things go.
I am taken aback when my entire body suddenly lurches forward, causing me to stumble on my own feet.
As I reach out, my hand grasps nothing but air, causing me to lose my balance and fall onto all fours. The rough asphalt scrapes against my knees and palms. Adrenaline courses through my veins, and I can't help but let out a burst of laughter.
This is something different.
With a renewed burst of laughter, my giggles bounce off the trees, creating a playful symphony in the forest.
Inside my nightmare, I am startled by the unfamiliar sound of my own voice, breaking the silence.
Startled, my gasp cuts through the quiet like a pin dropped in still water, and I turn to face the approaching headlights. Without conscious thought, my body instinctively responds to the click in my brain.
I move towards the center, the scene playing on a loop in my mind, allowing me to absorb every intricate detail.
Standing in the spot, I know exactly where the car will swerve, where Evan will end up trapped under a massive piece of metal, seconds away from disaster.
I square my shoulders, my gaze fixed forward as I desperately search for a way to halt the unfolding events, despite knowing it is all just a figment of my imagination. It may be far from reality, but it is a delightful escape.
And it is.
Far from reality.
In my heart, I carry the burden of knowing the truth.
It is unstoppable; there is nothing I can do to stop it.
The moment slips away before I can even take a single action to prevent it.
Helpless, I can only watch as it unfolds in front of me. I have no choice but to embrace the present and come to terms with the fact that it is already over. I am painfully aware of all of that.
Despite everything, I freeze in the middle of the road, my hand shielding my eyes from the blinding headlights of the approaching car.
"Stop."
With adrenaline coursing through my veins, I mutter, testing my voice and feeling a surge of excitement as I realize I can finally speak. I can make a difference, even if it is just a flicker of hope in my dreams. I clench my other hand into a fist, raising it higher in the air, urging for a little more volume.
A motion for him to stop, to stop the car and check who it is in the middle. Gathering all my strength, I open my mouth, and finally, a mighty bellow reverberates through the air.
"Evan, stop the car right now!"
Yet, the glimmer of hope fades away in mere moments.
The car zooms past without even slowing down.
My head shakes in disbelief, and my eyes widen in response.
Suddenly, the scene transforms once more, in the blink of an eye.
The once clear sky has given way to dark grey clouds, signaling an impending rainstorm. The raindrops are large and fat, drenching me within seconds. I try again, opening my mouth as I scream for him to stop, but like before, my voice is swallowed by silence.
I open my mouth again and let out a piercing scream, but it is as if the sound is muted. My vision becomes clouded with tears, and as I lose my will to fight, I remain motionless in the same spot.
I close my eyes, bracing for impact, for the force of the car to hit me, to launch me into the air.
But that's not how it plays out.
Startled by the sound of tires screeching, my eyes fly open.
For one split second, I almost think I see the car's headlights flicker, as if it is about to swerve. This time, I think it will swerve and topple over upside down, creating a cacophony of screeching metal and shattering glass because of me.
As soon as I realize that is not the case, I exhale sharply.
Instead, I watch as the car screeches to a halt beside me, the smell of burning rubber filling the air. I observe in awe as the rain suddenly ceases, and the once cloudy sky clears, revealing the moonlight that bathes both of us.
I watch, in awe and realization, as the car that stops in front of me is a completely different make and model than Evan's car.
I watch intently as the door swings open, and the sound of boots hitting the pavement echoes in my ears. His body and face are hidden in the shadows, completely obscured. I watch, my heart pounding in my chest, as the owner of the car parks just a few feet away from me. Their head tilts to the side, they look at me with a calculating gaze.
As my eyes settle on him, my breath catches in my throat.
I notice the slightly crooked angle of his hair, a detail that becomes instantly recognizable even though we have just met. I gaze at him as if he has materialized from a dream, the moonlight caressing him with a flawless silver glow. It feels as though someone has turned up the volume on a movie scene.
The transition from static white noise to the symphony of bird whistles, cricket chirps, and roaring engine sounds happens in a split second.
I watch, my breath caught in my chest, as Kieran walks into the warm glow, closing the space between us.
"Haven."
Although he speaks, I find myself at a loss for words.
The words spill out of Kieran's mouth, and my eyes widen in fright as I realize it is not his voice I hear.
No, it is Evan's voice, unmistakable in its familiarity.
And it is such a crazy sight.
It is a surreal experience to hear the voice of someone I love so dearly emanating from the mouth of someone I have only recently met. My throat tightens with dread as I observe Kieran's face melt and meld into an eerie reflection of Evan's.
"Haven, everything okay?"
I shake my head, trying to clear the thoughts swirling in my mind.
I want to scream, but my voice is trapped in my throat.
Before I know it, my entire body is trembling uncontrollably.
I fall to the ground on all fours, my forehead pressed against the rough, rocky asphalt, overwhelmed by the powerful scent of gasoline and engine oil. I let out a scream, but it sounds muffled and distant, as if it is swallowed by the vastness around me.
I close my eyes, weary of the familiar scenes that unfold before me.
And just as I am on the brink of surrender, a fresh voice infiltrates my thoughts.
"Haven! For the love of all that is sacred! Wake up!"
Lydia.
I wake up.